Off to Ralph's grocery store I went, and there in the front of the store where what I call NMNK shopping carts. I've heard these carts called "express carts" and "Two basket carts." These carts are about half the size and weight as the traditional shopping cart with the kid seat in front. There is no kid seat. They take up a lot less room in an isle so they are easier to move around crowded stores and boxy obstacle courses. And let's face it, most people aren't buying a month of food at one time...
I wonder if these NMNK shopping carts are a trend. If stores around the country are getting them. Or if this was just for the Ralph's I shop at, which is in an area where there are a lot of NMNK shoppers, as well as single senior citizens!
In the past on this blog I complained about Ralphs, one of the Kroger Company stores, and their "rewards" program which makes it difficult for anyone who is buying for one to achieve any rewards. Grocery store discount programs, in general, tend to focus on people who actually want to buy 10 Macaroni and Cheese or Liters of Soda at the same time, people who have homes with big storage areas or so many mouths to feed that they don't have to store their purchases for long. They are not facing the statistics with their rewards programs but they are with their new shopping carts!
Showing posts with label Ralphs Groceries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ralphs Groceries. Show all posts
10/15/11
RALPHS GROCERY DISCOUNT CARDS CHEAT THE SINGLE : SISTER SPEAKS
I was shopping at my local grocer the other day, Ralphs, one of the Kroger companies, when they actually told me I had lost 5 points, one a plastic bag, because they had bagged my groceries in these plastic bags, even though I had brought along one of my own shopping bags! (The clerk had not noticed by bag and told me I had not shown her I had one in enough time... yeesh!)
You see I live in California where there has been legislation to reduce the number of plastic shopping bags due to ecological concerns by charging for them in some way. Consumers are overall not impressed. Nobody wants to leave a store with purchases unbagged but no one wants to carry around stinky wrinkled old bags either.
WHAT I SEE IS THAT WE ARE NOW PURCHASING BAGS AT A DOLLAR OR MORE EACH and these bags are MADE IN CHINA and do not look biodegradable to me! (Though some of them may be made of some recycled materials.)
Beyond an argument for ecology here, is the fact that I CANNOT BUY GROCERIES AT THE BEST DISCOUNT AT MANY STORES WITHOUT USING ONE OF THEIR ACCOUNT CARDS. THESE CARDS PROVIDE SO CALLED REWARDS FOR HIGH GROCERY BILLS PER ACCOUNT : they reward FAMILIES.
It was this account card that was being zapped five points and the clerk (that twerp!) was admonishing me.
So I said (and her face turned red when I did). "You know, as a single person I HAVE NEVER ONCE PURCHASED ENOUGH TO GET ANY RALPHS REWARD. I believe that every person who walks in here should be eligible for the lowest price without these stupid cards! I see no reason whatsoever that your company should be collecting information on what I purchase here! It's enough to shop elsewhere!
The truth is that ever since the strike a few years back when Ralphs got caught by the IRS having some employees work using OTHER PEOPLE'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS and got a fine of a million or two, prices have been up into sticker shock zone. While I feel for dedicated employees and I see the trick the company used to try and break the unions, I'VE BEEN TAKING MOST OF MY GROCERY SHOPPING ELSEWHERE.
The other day I learned that Ralphs has closed about 50 stores since that strike and that people are now buying good at places like TARGET and WALLMART as well as Trader Joes which provide competition (and no union workers).
Trader Joes is my favorite for high quality basic items (I can't afford their fancy stuff) AND FOR PAYING THEIR EMPLOYEES WELL!
As the SINGLE (and unmarried) who are self supporting and have a household of ONE, WE ARE OFTEN NOT TREATED WELL AS CONSUMERS. But really, why does Ralphs or any other company need to know your name, address, phone number, demographic information, and that you do or do not buy... sanitary napkins, beer, canned chili, People magazine, or anything else!? in order to offer their lowest prices? Once in a while a coupon spits out of the register for something I bought or they want me to buy. I've gotten those intelligent coupons elsewhere without such a card.
NMNK need to speak up as consumers and on the spot.
You see I live in California where there has been legislation to reduce the number of plastic shopping bags due to ecological concerns by charging for them in some way. Consumers are overall not impressed. Nobody wants to leave a store with purchases unbagged but no one wants to carry around stinky wrinkled old bags either.
WHAT I SEE IS THAT WE ARE NOW PURCHASING BAGS AT A DOLLAR OR MORE EACH and these bags are MADE IN CHINA and do not look biodegradable to me! (Though some of them may be made of some recycled materials.)
Beyond an argument for ecology here, is the fact that I CANNOT BUY GROCERIES AT THE BEST DISCOUNT AT MANY STORES WITHOUT USING ONE OF THEIR ACCOUNT CARDS. THESE CARDS PROVIDE SO CALLED REWARDS FOR HIGH GROCERY BILLS PER ACCOUNT : they reward FAMILIES.
It was this account card that was being zapped five points and the clerk (that twerp!) was admonishing me.
So I said (and her face turned red when I did). "You know, as a single person I HAVE NEVER ONCE PURCHASED ENOUGH TO GET ANY RALPHS REWARD. I believe that every person who walks in here should be eligible for the lowest price without these stupid cards! I see no reason whatsoever that your company should be collecting information on what I purchase here! It's enough to shop elsewhere!
The truth is that ever since the strike a few years back when Ralphs got caught by the IRS having some employees work using OTHER PEOPLE'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS and got a fine of a million or two, prices have been up into sticker shock zone. While I feel for dedicated employees and I see the trick the company used to try and break the unions, I'VE BEEN TAKING MOST OF MY GROCERY SHOPPING ELSEWHERE.
The other day I learned that Ralphs has closed about 50 stores since that strike and that people are now buying good at places like TARGET and WALLMART as well as Trader Joes which provide competition (and no union workers).
Trader Joes is my favorite for high quality basic items (I can't afford their fancy stuff) AND FOR PAYING THEIR EMPLOYEES WELL!
As the SINGLE (and unmarried) who are self supporting and have a household of ONE, WE ARE OFTEN NOT TREATED WELL AS CONSUMERS. But really, why does Ralphs or any other company need to know your name, address, phone number, demographic information, and that you do or do not buy... sanitary napkins, beer, canned chili, People magazine, or anything else!? in order to offer their lowest prices? Once in a while a coupon spits out of the register for something I bought or they want me to buy. I've gotten those intelligent coupons elsewhere without such a card.
NMNK need to speak up as consumers and on the spot.
9/15/09
RALPHS (KROGER COMPANY) POINTS SYSTEM DESCRIMINATED AGAINST NMNK
You shop at Ralphs, which is owned by the Kroger company, and you use those RALPHS REWARDS cards for the advertised discounts, which really should be for everyone right? But no discount without the card, which no doubt is keeping track of what you buy and is a marketing tactic. You need to buy LOTS OF FOOD to get enough points $5 reward for the first 500. As a single person it's near impossible to get a reward at all. I HAVE NEVER, and I do eat! Now I suppose if I threw expensive bottles of wine in (but I barely drink), and maybe some expensive cuts of meat for a dinner party, maybe then I'd get 500 points.... YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK?
THIS POINTS SYSTEM is POINTLESS!
Sister
THIS POINTS SYSTEM is POINTLESS!
Sister
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